Suspenders.



PATENTED'DEC. 27, 1904. J. E. AUSTRIAN.

SUSPENDERS. AYYLICATION FILED JUNE 9. 1904.

asses}? M elastic.

No. 778,298. I

Patented December 27, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH E. AUSTRIAN, OF NEW YORK, Y.

SUSPENDERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 778,298, dated December 2'7, 1904. Application filed J 11118 9, 1904:. Serial No. 211,844.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH E. AUSTRIAN, of New York city, State of New York, (postoflice address 18 Lafayette Place, New York city, New York,) have invented a new and useful Improvement in Suspenders and the Like, which is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates to suspenders or the like. The ordinary suspenders have buckles, plates, loops, &c., of metal, and these metal parts tend to rub and wear out the garments of the wearer, and particularly they become rusty and stain the clothing. It has been proposed to substitute bone or heavy leather in place of the metal; but the bone is difiicult to work and comparatively expensive, it must be quite thick and clumsy'in order to give it suflicient strength, and after all it is almost sure to split orbreak after short use and leather, particularly after being moistened by perspiration, is too yielding and soon stretches out of shape and gives way. Metal therefore has been found indispensable wherever there is any strain or relative movement between the partsin short, wherever a rigid unyielding bearing-surface is required.

My invention, then, consists, primarily, in providing a cover or shield for the indispensable metal parts and, further, in the arrangement and details hereinafter pointed out.

The drawings annexed hereto illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Figure 1 shows a pair of suspenders. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail viewed from the right of Fig. 1 and partly in section (through line H II of Fig. 1) and with the thickness of the parts greatly exaggerated, and Fig. 3 is a back view of a detail.

A A represent the two main portions, (hereinafter called fwebs,) which are preferably They are connected at the rear and pass forward over the wearers shoulders.

B is a second portion or web, preferably narrower and non-elastic, connected to the forward end of each main portion A, and B is a similar web at the rear.

0 indicates the usual end pieces for attachment to the trousers.

D is a short piece of web folded on itself and secured near the end of each main web A to carry (as a bearing for web B) the ob long metal loop E, though this metal loopv may be secured in any manner. A roller may be provided on the lower member of this loop.

F'is a pocket or shield, of morocco or similar'material, serving to cover the loop E. Preferably it surrounds the lower end of web A and the parts D and E and is stitched to Web A. It is open at the bottom to leave room for the web B.

. Each of the webs B B and B passes loosely through its own metal loop E, and its ends are connected with a metal slideplate, as G, which is preferably made fast to the shorter end 6 of web B and may be adjusted along the other portion, 6', of the web to lengthen or shorten the suspenders. This slide-plate is shown as a rectangular plate G, having two slots g g, through which are threaded the portions 6 and b of web B; but the form of this plate .and the arrangement of the portions 6 b therewith are unessential and are explained merely for illustration. A shield, as H, of morocco or the like surrounds and covers this metal plate G. This shield is shown as made from a blank having its sides stitched together to form an open-ended tube and then flattenedand slipped over the free ends of Z) and Z) to surround and completely inclose plate G. Preferably tabs h h are left at each end of the blank, and these tabs are stitched down to the shorter end 6 of the web B, thus serving to secure the plateGr; but the construction of the shield and the manner of securing it are unessential, and friction alone may be relied on to hold the metalplate.

Preferably the end pieces 0 are connected to the freeends of webs B by means of a feast-off, a convenient form of which is shown. A strip of leather or the like, as I, carries the two members t' and 7 of a ball-andsocket device and is stitched at its ends to the end of portion 6. When this contrivance is.

looped over the end piece C and fastened, the metal parts 41 and t" are completely protected.

1t will be seen that I provide metal whereever metal is indispensable, and yet the metal is everywhere covered by a soft and smooth flat surface, and that at the same time I have not sacrificed any other features of advantage and retain the maximum amout of elastic web and the greatest range in the adjustment of the length of the suspenders. The smallness and simplicity of the metal parts and of the leather coverings are noteworthy.

Of course I do not limit myself to the exact constructions and arrangements shown, and parts of my invention may be used to the exclusion of other parts. Where I speak of morocco or leather I. include any material of similar nature having sufficient body or consistency, and likewise the term web is employed as meaning a strap or band of any suitable material. While I have explained my invention as applied to suspenders, it may be applied in Whole or in part to hosesupporters or to other articles where metal parts are to be covered Without being interfered with.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In suspenders or the like, the combination With the elastic Web, of a non-elastic loop secured thereto, a metal loop carried by said first-named loop, a non-elastic web passing adjustably through said metal loop, and a nonmetallic pocket secured to said elastic web and covering said metal loop, substantially as described.

2. Suspenders 01' similar articles, comprising an elastic web, a metal loop and a pocket therefor attached to the end of said web, a non-elastic web passing freely through said loop, a metal slide-plate through whose slots the ends of said non-elastic web are threaded, a non-metallic cover secured to one end of said non-elastic web and surrounding said plate, a cast-off at the other end of said non-elastic web, and an end piece carried thereby.

3. In suspenders or the like, the herein-dcscribed cast-off, comprising a strip of leather carrying the two members of a ball-and-socket device, and attached to the end of the web of said suspenders so that the backs of said members are covered by said web.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH. E. AUSTRIAN.

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(l. A. L. MAssIu, R. L. Sco'r'r. 

